Pneumatic mattress.



Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

C. B. ROBERTSON.

PNEUMATIC MATTRESS.

APPLICATmN FILED MAY 21, 1918.

aan srars `,grama aaron CHARLES B. ROBERTSON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO y O. d'. DEVANEY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PNEUMATIC MATTRESS.

Lasasai.

To all whom t may' concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. ROBERTSON, a citizen of the United State, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Mattresses, of which the following is a speciflcation.

This invention relates to pneumatic mattresses, and has-for its object to provide a comfortable and efficient mattress of such construction as to be capable of being folded into a relatively compact condition when not in use in order to be readily transported, or when adapted for active service to be correspondingly easy and convenient to inflate to a proper degree of buoyancy and resiliency, whereby the same may be employed in the same capacities and with the same comforts of ordinary mattresses.

Another object of the invention is to produce a mattress particularly adapted for the needs of soldiers, campers, and others who desire a mattress which may be instantly set up for comfortable usage irrespective of adverse conditions or localities, and yet may be folded when not in service to assume a bundle of minimum bulk with accompanying lightness in weight, so that the same may be conveniently carried or otherwise transported from place to place.

A urther object of the invention resides in a mattress capable of being employed with the same degree of comfort and utility as is accomplished'through the use of an ordinary stued or hair mattress, and one which will possess and maintain a high standard of buoyancy or resiliency throughout its life regardless of hard or wear imarting usage; the same further including eatures of construction which will render it perfectly sanitary, easy to keep ina cleanly condition, and capable of convenient repair in the event of damage to one or more of its several members.

To this end, the invention consists of a pneumatic mattress constructed to include an outer fabric covering in which is positioned a lurality of parallel extending in'- flatable tu es, means being provided to maintain said tubes in spaced relation, so that @mammalian at matera Eatent.

- Application led May 27, 1918. Serial No. 236,664.

thereof Patente@ new. ae, teas.

when inflated the same will assume a proper cross sectional formation in order to preserve the desirable, substantially flatV surfaces characteristic of stuffed mattresses.

The invention further includes a novel form of valve mechanism for use in connection with the inflatable tubes, whereby the vlatter will be capable of being simultaneously inflated or deflated and, furthermore, in the event of one or more of said tubes becoming accidentally deflated, said valve mechanism will automatically act to localize removal or insertion of the tube members within the covering, and the flap members, 1n turn, serving to preserve the desired contour of the mattress, and to brace and con- `ceal the internal parts thereof.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention accordingly consists in the novel features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and having the scope thereof particularly set forth in the appended claims. Y

lfn the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar lchar-- acters of reference denote corresponding and like parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mattress, one end thereof being partly broken away and shown in section to disclose the underlying structure,

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional disclosing more particularly the inlet andf exhaust manifolds, and illustrating vtheir associated valve mechanism,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the mattress and disclosing the outer flaps in an open position in order to set forth .the laced inner flaps and the cooperative manifolds.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the mattress disclosing a slightly modified form of the head end thereof.l

Referring more particularlyto the details of the invention, the mattress 1 comprising the preferred form of the invention, consists of an outer fabric covering l2, preferably of stoutgcanvas or the like, the same being' stitched or otherwise reinforced along its marginal edges 3 to assist in defining the proper contour thereof when inflated. One end of the covering is permanently closed by means of a fixed end member 4, while the opposite or lower end 5 is left open, so 'that access may be obtained with regard to its interior construction.

In this instance the interior of the covering'l or casin 2 is. provided with longitudinally exten ing, flexible, divisional walls 6,

' which have their edges preferably secured in anyv suitable permanent manner to the adj acent surfaces of the covering, and these walls.

6 serve to define a-plurality of parallel dis# posed, tube receiving compartments 7. The j latter have their upper ends closed by means sie inflated, thus preventing undue bulging or .distentionl of certain parts thereof, but on the other hand positively serving to retain the same equally resilient at all positions over its entire area. In other words, the mattress will possess the same resilient properties, when weight is imposed thereon, along positions adjacent to its sides as well as in its central. portion, or vice versa.

' In order to inflate or deflate the tubes 8,

' This manifold is provided with a plurality there is provided a flexible air inlet manifold 9, which in its preferred form consists of a section of rubber tubing disposed to extend -in this instance transversely of the mattressl 1, and 'contiguous to the open end thereof.

of spaced inwardly extending tubular o'- Sets 10, the latter terminating within the tubes 8, whereby air passing through the manifold -9 will be dischar' ed uniformly into said tubes. This mani old is further provided with an inlet tube 11, to which any suitable form of pump, bellows or other air compressing device (not shown) may be atretained therein, as the ball valves are sov constructed to firmly seat when subjected to the influence of the air pressure adorded by the tubes 8, so as to prevent undue escape of air from said tubes. The valves 12 are preferably formed from rubber, in order to be of a non-corroding nature and to be capable -of firmly engaging with their respective seats 13 to eliminate undue air leakage.

To exhaust air from said tubes, there is provided an exhaust manifold 15, which is similar in construction to the manifold 9, be-

ing preferably formed from a suitable ilexible material and is provided with communicating tubular offsets 16, the latter being situated contiguous to the offsets 10 and like the latter are disposed to enter the tubes 8. This latter manifold 15 is centrally provided. with a cap covered vent member 1 7,

through which air fromv said exhaust manilfold is discharged. The offsets 16 in this within thetubes 8 away from their seats 19 to leave the latter normally uncovered, whereby upon the removal of the cap covering the vent member 17, air will be permitted to exhaust from the tubes 8, and through the manifold 15 to deflate the mattress. However, in the event ofone of the tubes 8, or more, becoming damaged or punctured in such manner as to'accidentally permitof the undue escape of air therefrom, the valves 18 will respond to the back pressure contained in the manifold 15 so asto force the valve 18 of the damaged tube into engagement with its seat 19, thus permitting of only the damaged tube to become defiated, and with out inany way disturbing the iniate-d condition of the remaining tubes. Thus, it will be manifest, means have been provided for localizing the effects of a damaged tube, without permitting the remaining tubes to be influenced thereby. The osets 10 and 16 are maintained in engagement with their respective tubes` through the agency of a cemented strip or the like 20, which engages with the flanges21 of the offsets and securely retains the latter in close engagement with said tubes thereby providing a substantially fluid tight joint. y

The open end 5 of the covering is provided with a plurality of inwardly situated spaced flaps 22, which latter have certain of their longitudinal edges sewed or otherwise secured as at 23 to said covering, thus leaving their free adjacent edges slightly seplll ineeaeea arated, and through this space, dened by said ree edges, the inlet and exhaust manifold 9 and l5, respectively, extend. The adjacent edges of the aps 22 are preferably laced together as at 2st, and from this it Will be noticed that said daps Will serve to define an end Wall for the lower ends oi the tubes 8, thus preventing the latter :trom becoming unduly distended at their lower ends, at the same time serving to maintain the desired contour or formation of the mattress. To protect the manifolds 9 and i5 and to conceal the latter from view, l may provide additional liaps 23 and 2a, the tormer being capable of being folded to protect the side edges of the mattress and the latter serving to incase and guard the manifolds. Any suitable means may be rovided to retain the daps 23 and 24 in their folded position, yet to permit the same to' be readily folded to assume out of the Way positions and to thus render the interior oi the mattress quickly and conveniently accessible.

From the foregoing it will be evident that there is provided mechanism whereby the objects of the invention have been achieved, and that all of the desirable features of construction and operation above mentioned areq among others, present. rlhe mattress is capable of being readily inated or deflated as desired and it is of such construction that When dedated the same may be conveniently folded to assume a bundle of relatively small proportions, so that the same may be easily carried or stored avvayin but a minimum of storage space. rlhis feature of construction particularly renders the mattress adaptable to the needs of soldiers, campers and others requiring a mattress of this character, which also must be capable -of being conveniently transportable. Another possible use of the mattress is in connection With sea goin vessels, since if the latter should meet Wit disaster, the mattress may be employed in the capacity of a life preserver or raft, as a raft of practicable proportions may be quickly formed by lashing together a plurality of said` mattresses, this being accomplished by passing a cable through the eyelets 26 provided for that purpose. As

shown in 6, the head of the mattress may be enlarged as at 27 in order to eliminate the use of a pillow or the like.

l claim:

l. ln a pneumatic mattress, the combination with a plurality of indated tubes, ci valve mechanism for governing the admission and expulsion of air into and from said tubes, comprising independent llexible inlet and exhaust manifolds disposed to be in communication with the interior of said tubes, check valves carried by said inlet manifold and automatically operable to permit of an intloiv of air into said tubes under pressure and constructed to automatically seat upon release of said pressure to retain the air `Within said tubes, and similar check valves carried by'said exhaust manifold and operable upon an undue leakage of air from any one of said tubes to localize the escape of air therefrom and to prevent said leakage from aliecting the indated condition of the remaining tubes.

2. in a pneumatic mattress, the combination With a plurality of iniiated tubes, oi valve mechanism for governing the admission and expulsion of air into and from said tubes, comprising independent iexible inlet and exhaust manifolds disposed to be in communication With the interior of Y said tubes, check valves carried by said inlet mami-old and automatically operable to permit of an iniiovv et air into said tubes under pressure-and constructed to automatically seat upon release of said pressure to retain the ain Within said tubes, similar check valves carried by said exhaust manifold and operable upon an undue leakage of air from any one of said-tubes to localize the escape of air therefrom and to'prevent said leakagel from adecting the indated condition of the remaining tubes, laced end flaps carried by said membersand serving as an end Wall for said tubes and between the spaced edges of which flaps vthe maolds outwardly protrude, and a plurality of concealing iaps arranged to overlie said former iaps to protect and incase said manifolds.

ln testimony whereof l aiiix my. signature.

CLES, B. ROBERTSN.

titl 

